As real as it looks, it’s fake! A letter with the U.S. Supreme Court seal, official-looking signatures from Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Sonia Sotomayor, and bold warnings that you’re being investigated is circulating amongst Social Security recipients. If you don’t take immediate action, the letter may even threaten to suspend your Social Security income or seize your bank accounts.
But here’s the truth: it’s all a scam.
The Social Security Administration’s Office of the Inspector General (SSA OIG) has sent out a letter that is warning the public about a new scam that is doing its rounds and targeting Social Security recipients.
A New Kind of Social Security Scam
Remember, fake calls and emails from scammers pretending to be government officials have been around for years, but this current scam is something to be very mindful of.
These scammers are sending letters that look so real, it looks like it came straight from the Supreme Court or the SSA. Scammers use official seals and formal language to make it seem real.
The letters frequently state that you are being investigated for major offences such as “identity theft” or “financial fraud.” They threaten to permanently remove your Social Security number, freeze all your assets, or even issue an arrest warrant if you don’t respond right away.
The simple goal of this is to make you afraid and lure you into sending money or sharing personal information.
How the Scam Works
According to the SSA OIG, the scam shows up in a few different ways:
- Letters or emails that look official and include fake government seals or logos.
- Phone calls from people pretending to be agents from the SSA or even the Supreme Court.
- They demand payment from you.
- They threaten to freeze your assets if you don’t comply.
Unfortunately, these scammers are very good at what they do. They work in such a manner that everything seems like it’s coming straight from the governments office.
It’s important to remember that the government will never threaten you or demand money from you.
The Official Warning from the SSA
The SSA has warned recipients not to respond or click on any links and don’t call any numbers that are listed in the message. Instead, report this to the SSA office immediately.
How to Protect Yourself
Here are a few simple ways to protect yourself and your loved ones:
- Remain calm and analyse the situation: Scammers have the intention to scare you into acting quickly, take a moment before making any decision.
- Do not share your personal details: Don’t give out your Social Security number, bank info, or address to anyone who contacts you unexpectedly.
- Check with the real SSA: If you are unsure about a message, be sure to contact the SSA to verify.
- Be sure to look for anything suspicious: Scammers often make grammar mistakes or ask for payments through unusual methods.
- Report the scam: You can forward fake emails to phishing@ssa.gov or report scams online at oig.ssa.gov.
The Bottom Line
Social Security beneficiaries are urged to know that the SSA and the U.S. Supreme Court will never send out threatening messages or demand payments over the phone or email.
Even though these fake letters look real, they’re part of a bigger scam to trick Social Security recipients into sending out payments or their personal details.
Should you find yourself in this situation, don’t panic. Analyse the situation and act accordingly. Do not rush and make any decisions to send out payments.
A little awareness can go a long way in stopping these scams before they do more damage.